“Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event…” The WWE video leads us into the show.

A video recap recounts what happened at Hell in a Cell on Sunday. Undertaker defeated CM Punk to win the World Heavyweight Champion.

The new Smackdown video and music plays and we’re brought into the arena with a great pyrotechnics display. Jim Ross and Todd Grisham welcome us to the show and promote that the new champion Undertaker will be there. Chris Jericho will collide with Rey Mysterio and CM Punk will take on Batista.

Smackdown General Manager Theodore Long is in the middle of the ring. Long congratulates Undertaker on becoming the World Heavyweight Champion and says his performance demonstrated that Smackdown is the dominate brand in WWE. In three weeks we’ll see a new Pay Per View, Bragging Rights. Here we’ll see John Cena take on Randy Orton for the WWE Title in a sixty minute Iron Man Match. Long mentions the stipulations and says that if Cena loses he’s welcome on Smackdown.

CM Punk’s music hits and the former World Heavyweight Champion makes his way out to the ring. Punk gets in Long’s face and says the General Manager of Smackdown is talking about a Raw wrestler. Punk says Smackdown doesn’t need John Cena – it needs more focus from its General Manager. Punk says Long’s focus should solely be on him, especially if he’s going to talk about his World Heavyweight Championship. Punk says if he’s about to name a number one contender, than his name should be the only one on his tongue. Punk mentions he’s the only straightedge World Heavyweight Champion in history and says he has a guaranteed rematch clause. Punk says it’s wrong that he has to face Batista tonight, five days after Hell in a Cell. Punk says when he gets his rematch he wants it in a Submission Match with Scott Armstrong as the referee. Long goes to speak but Punk cuts him off.

Vince McMahon’s music hits and the CEO of the company makes his way to the ring as only he can. McMahon gets in the ring and shakes both of the men’s hands. Long gives McMahon a proper introduction. McMahon says he tries to support Long in every way he can but his patience is wearing thin. McMahon says he’s still on probation and he doesn’t like what Long was about to announce. What he was going to announce wasn’t going to please Punk or the Undertaker, before mentioning the he doesn’t know why Long is still provoking him. McMahon says Long is putting the World Heavyweight Championship up for grabs in a match featuring the Champion Undertaker, CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, and Batista.

McMahon says it’s time to get the show on the road and introduces the first combatant of the night Rey Mysterio. Mysterio does his introduction and he and McMahon SHAKE hands, something I feel is very important, given recent events. Mysterio will take on Chris Jericho next.

-Commercial Break-

Tonight we’ll see John Morrison defend his Intercontinental Championship against Dolph Ziggler in a rematch from Hell in a Cell.

Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho

The match begins and they circle the ring before locking up. Jericho pushes Mysterio away and taunts him. They circle the ring again and Mysterio kicks him. Mysterio has a whip reversed on him but Mysterio counters with a wheelbarrow arm drag. Mysterio leapfrogs Jericho and monkey flips him, causing Jericho to roll out of the ring. Mysterio then comes over the top rope with a cross-body.

Mysterio throws Jericho into the ring and runs right into a clothesline. Jericho kicks Mysterio in the back before hitting a picture perfect suplex for a one count. Jericho pushes Mysterio’s face and chokes him in the corner. Jericho whips Mysterio into the opposite corner but runs right into a boot. Mysterio hits a nice head-scissors takeover. Mysterio has a whip reversed on him and Jericho flapjacks him before hitting a low dropkick to the face. Jericho hits a guillotine on the bottom rope. Jericho picks Mysterio up and he starts trying to punch back but Jericho knees him in the midsection and slides him out of the ring chest first. It’s time for a commercial there.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Mysterio locked in an arm trap chin lock. Mysterio fights up and elbows out before going into the ropes and surprising Jericho with a school boy for a near fall. Mysterio goes into the ropes and runs right into a Step-Up Enzuigiri for a near fall. Jericho then suplexes Mysterio stomach first on the top rope before pushing him down to the floor. Jericho taunts the crowd before leaving the ring and kneeing Mysterio in the midsection.

Jericho slides Mysterio into the ring before getting into the ring and hitting a slingshot splash for a near fall. Jericho sits Mysterio on the top rope and goes for a super back suplex. Jericho first tries to rip the mask off so Mysterio elbows him off. Mysterio comes off the top rope with a seated senton. Mysterio ducks a clothesline and hits a springboard cross-body block for a near fall. Jericho cuts him off with a kick and goes for a sunset flip but Mysterio rolls through and dropkicks him in the face for another near fall. Mysterio has a whip reversed on him but he hangs on to the ropes and drop-toe-holds Jericho into position. Mysterio goes for the 619 but Jericho catches him halfway through the move and goes for the Walls of Jericho but Mysterio counters with an inside cradle for a near fall!

Mysterio goes into the ropes and runs right into a torture rack backbreaker for a near fall. Jericho kicks Mysterio in the back and slaps him in the head. Jericho whips Mysterio hard into the corner and goes for a face buster but Mysterio simply runs him into the corner. Mysterio springboards off the top rope with a hurricanrana, which puts Jericho in position. Mysterio goes for the 619 but Jericho sidesteps him. Mysterio springboards but Jericho counters into the Walls of Jericho and Jericho pretty much just sits on his back. It looks nasty. Mysterio tries to get to the ropes but Jericho drags him to the middle. Mysterio then shifts his weight and Jericho lifts him up for a powerbomb but Mysterio rolls down. Jericho tries to catch him with the Walls of Jericho again but Mysterio kicks him in the temple and Jericho falls into position. Mysterio then hits the 619 and a springboard splash for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: Rey MysterioMatch Rating: ***

JR and Todd Grisham talk about Mysterio’s big win before transitioning over to the Raw Rebound. We take a look at Ben Roethlisberger’s time as Raw General Manager. The best part was Santino Marella backstage with him.

It’s time for another edition of Cryme Tyme’s Word Up. The Word of the Day is Eve. They say the first “E” stands for Exquisite, the “V” stands for Vivacious, and the last “E” stands for Exit because she’s taking on Michelle McCool, next.

-Commercial Break-

Still to come tonight is Batista taking on CM Punk.

Eve vs. Michelle McCool

This is a non-title match for those of you keeping score. The match begins and they lock up. McCool powers her to the corner and knees her. McCool punches and pushes her. Eve ducks a punch and does the same thing. Eve pushes McCool to the corner and runs into a back elbow. Eve hits a double leg takedown and punches McCool a few times. McCool rolls out of the ring and runs away from Eve. McCool gets in the ring and goes for a kick but Eve ducks it and clotheslines her down for a no count. McCool pushes Eve face first into the turnbuckle and hits a running knee to the face.

McCool grounds and pounds Eve before dropping a few knees on her face. McCool hits a leg drop before locking on an inverted camel clutch. McCool then crosses Eve’s arms and chokes her out like that. Eve tries a few times to get out before successfully doing so. McCool cartwheels to counter an arm drag and runs right into a clothesline. Eve hits a pair of dropkicks before going into the ropes and hitting a running flipping senton for a two count. McCool is in the corner so Eve goes for a handspring back elbow but McCool kicks her in the back. McCool gets a suplex countered into a cradle for a near fall. Eve then misses a clothesline and eats McCool’s big boot. McCool makes the easy pin from there.

Winner by Pinfall: Michelle McCoolMatch Rating: * ¼

Later tonight we’ll hear from the World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker.

-Commercial Break-

Backstage Vickie Guerrero is all over her new boyfriend Eric Escobar. Teddy Long walks into his office and asks what Vickie Guerrero wants. Guerrero says last week Escobar was announced as a new member of the Smackdown roster and she thinks it’s unfair that he’s not in a match tonight. Guerrero also says it’s unfair that CM Punk doesn’t get his one on one rematch. Guerrero asks if Long realizes that mathematically that match doesn’t favor Undertaker either. Guerrero doesn’t understand why he keeps poking a stick at Undertaker. Long says something about Mr. McMahon and Guerrero cuts him off, not believing that he’d blame it on the Chairman/CEO. Escobar says something in Spanish and walks away. Guerrero reminds Long that he’s still on probation and walks away.

The Intercontinental Championship will now be defended. My friend Lisa is shown on screen holding up a sign that says “John Morrison Rocks!” Congrats Lisa! Dolph Ziggler also makes his entrance. They’ll lock up next.

We come back from the break and the bell rings to start the match. My favorite referee Charles Robinson is in charge of this bout. Ziggler takes some time to talk some trash. They circle the ring before showing a lock up but Ziggler goes for a single leg that Morrison blocks with a front face lock. Ziggler hits the single leg anyway and holds a chin lock. Morrison counters into a waist lock takedown for a one count. Ziggler gets up and punches Morrison in the face. Ziggler hits a beautiful fireman’s carry for a two count. Ziggler locks on a grounded chin lock before covering for a one count. Morrison hits a fireman’s carry now and locks on an arm bar. Ziggler gets to his feet and knees out. Ziggler punches him down before whipping him into the ropes. Morrison slides between Ziggler’s legs and delivers a dropsault for a one count.

Morrison hits a headlock takeover and keeps the headlock. Ziggler rolls through and gets to his feet. Ziggler went for a neckbreaker but Morrison countered in a backslide attempt but Ziggler gets out of it. Ziggler goes for a short-arm clothesline but Morrison counters into a backbreaker into a Russian Leg Sweep. Morrison hits a break dance leg drop for a near fall. Morrison locks Ziggler in a chin lock and Maria, Dolph Ziggler’s girlfriend, runs down to the ring. Ziggler gets to his feet and grabs Morrison’s leg. Morrison counters with a pele kick but can’t avoid being driven face first into the turnbuckle. Ziggler hits a nice German Suplex with a bridging pin for a near fall.

Ziggler hits some stomps and punches on Morrison. Ziggler whips Morrison hard into the corner and hits a nice splash. Morrison falls out of the corner and Ziggler covers for a near fall. Ziggler bashes Morrison’s face off the canvas before dropping a big elbow for a two count. Ziggler locks on a chin lock and has it on tight. Morrison fights to his feet and punches but Ziggler counters with a knee to the face. Ziggler hits some big right hands before talking more trash. Morrison starts coming back with some punches but Ziggler counters into a powerslam for a near fall. Ziggler grounds and pounds Morrison before locking on a chin lock. Ziggler changes into an arm bar before going back to the chin lock. Morrison counters with an electric chair drop and they’re both down.

They both answer the call and Morrison comes back with punches. Ziggler comes back with punches and Morrison explodes with a forearm smash. Morrison hits a clothesline before sending him into the ropes and hitting a calf kick. Morrison hits a STANDING Shooting Star Press for a near fall. Morrison has a whip reversed on him but Ziggler lowers his head and eats a kick. Morrison hits a running cross-body which sends both men over the top rope!

Morrison gets Ziggler up and Ziggler drives him into the apron. Ziggler throws him into the ring and grabs Maria’s chair. Ziggler gets in the ring and kicks Morrison in the face. Ziggler stomps him down while Maria takes her chair back and sits down. Ziggler hits a corner clothesline before having a whip reversed on him. Ziggler holds on to the ropes and dropkicks Morrison. Ziggler looks for the chair and yells at Maria when he sees her sitting in it. Ziggler then turns into the Flying Chuck which gives Morrison the win.

Maria checks on her boyfriend in the ring as John Morrison backs up the ramp with his Intercontinental Championship.

JR and Todd Grisham promote Undertaker being here later tonight before bringing us to a tremendous look back at Undertaker’s previous title reigns up to now. It’s great to see him beat Hogan back in the day and to see Ministry Undertaker.

-Commercial Break-

Backstage Dolph Ziggler is walking angrily away from Maria while she begs him to talk to her. Ziggler says he has a professional and a personal life and he thought she could differentiate. Ziggler’s personal life he doesn’t know but his professional life he sees a big future. Ziggler says in his personal life he doesn’t see her and walks away while she pretends to cry.

where backstage Rey Mysterio is greeted by Batista. Mysterio hopes he didn’t let Batista down at Hell in a Cell. Batista says they went in as a team and lost as a team. Batista says Mysterio won tonight and he’ll win tonight. When they go to Bragging Rights, Mysterio will be in the ring when he wins the World Heavyweight Title back. Mysterio says he’s going to win and they laugh and hug.

R-Truth and Matt Hardy make their way to the ring. They’ll be in tag team action next.

-Commercial Break-

R-Truth & Matt Hardy vs. Drew McIntyre & Kane

Drew McIntyre will start out against Matt Hardy. They lock up and Hardy quickly gets a side headlock. Hardy locks on a hammerlock and McIntyre counters into a wristlock. Hardy counters back into a hammerlock and then gets the side headlock. McIntyre sends Hardy to the corner. Hardy sidesteps him when he charges and wrenches the arm. Hardy tags in R-Truth and R-truth hits a double axe handle to the arm. R-Truth hits some punches before McIntyre comes back with some punches and kicks. McIntyre gets a headlock before R-Truth whips him off. Kane makes a blind tag as R-Truth hits a really weak kick to McIntyre. R-Truth then turns into a big boot from Kane.

Kane punches and kicks R-Truth in the corner. Kane hits a snapmare before hitting a low dropkick for a two count. McIntyre tags back in before hitting a snap suplex for a two count. McIntyre kicks him in the head before Kane tags back in. Kane sends R-Truth into the corner before attempting a sidewalk slam, which R-Truth counters. Kane runs into a drop-toe-hold and both men tag their partners.

Hardy ducks a big boot and punches McIntyre before hitting a spinning right hand. Hardy hits a clothesline and a low dropkick. Hardy throws his weight on McIntyre, who was hung up on the ropes, before coming off the second rope with an elbow to the back of the neck. Hardy hits the Side Effect for a near fall broken up by Kane. R-Truth dropkicks Kane out of the ring and McIntyre blindsides him. Hardy goes for the Twist of Fate but McIntyre pushes him into Kane, who uppercuts him, and McIntyre hits the Double Arm DDT for the win!

Winners by Pinfall: Drew McIntyre & KaneMatch Rating: * ½

We’ll hear from the Undertaker next.

-Commercial Break-

Todd Grisham thanks Divide the Day for the use of their song “Let It Roll,” the official theme song of Smackdown. This is a great song and I’m thinking about downloading it.

The gong sounds and the lights go out which can only mean one thing – the new World Heavyweight Champion, the Undertaker, is on his way to the ring. Undertaker gets in the ring and the crowd showers him with praise.

“I am the reaper of wayward souls. I am the World Heavyweight Champion, and this, this, is the holy grail of everyone who steps foot in this ring, and that is why it was so important that I possess it, because every wayward soul would stray from crossing the path of the Undertaker. But now, consumed by the lust of fortune and fame, the recognition that this championship brings will lead them down a road for which they will be sorry they ever embarked, because that road ends in my yard. For them it will be a graveyard. On October twenty-five, 2009, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, three men will tempt their fate on a new battleground called Bragging Rights. CM Punk – Punk escaped Hell in a Cell relatively in one piece; all he lost was his title. At Bragging Rights, I will take his soul.

“Rey Mysterio, your tenacious heart is legendary, your courage unquestionable, but make no mistake about it – I will show you no mercy. And that brings me to Batista. Batista, our battles from the past are epic, but even your strength and rage will not be enough to save your soul. How appropriate that the match is names Fatal Four Way, because one by one each of you will fall beneath the shadow of the Undertaker. One by one you will REST IN PEACE!”

Coming up next we’ll see Batista take on CM Punk.

-Commercial Break-

Batista vs. CM Punk

Before the match even begins, Batista chases CM Punk from the ring. Punk takes his time before getting in.

The match begins and Batista aggressively approaches Punk. Punk gets a quick kick that Batista no sells and Punk quickly gets out of the ring. Punk takes his time before getting back in and Batista powers him to the corner. Punk hits some quick punches before having a whip reversed on him to the corner and Batista clotheslines him there. Batista whips Punk into the ropes but Punk holds on and gets out of the ring to recover. Punk is still recovering from Hell in a Cell, after all. Punk takes even more time getting back in the ring. Batista kicks him and smashes his face in the corner. Punk is on the apron and he hot shots Batista really quick. Punk springboards off the top rope for a clothesline but Batista kicks him and goes for the Batista Bomb. Punk quickly gets out of the ring and we’ll take a commercial here. So far so bad.

-Commercial Break-

Batista sends Punk into the ropes and back elbows him down. Batista suplexes him and covers for a near fall. Batista punches Punk in the corner. Punk goes to roll him up but can’t get him off his feet. Punk avoids a clothesline and hits some big kicks. Batista blocks a roundhouse kick and goes for an ankle lock but Punk quickly gets out of the ring. Batista follows him out and Punk kicks him getting back in the ring. Punk comes off the top rope with a flying knee and covers but can’t get the shoulders on the mat.

Punk elbows him down and drops a leg for a two count. Punk locks on a chin lock. Batista powers up and snapmares out but can’t avoid a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Punk locks on a figure four headlock. The crowd is dead here. Batista breaks the grip of Punk’s legs with his bare hands just as JR was putting over how strong Punk’s legs are. Punk goes for another neckbreaker but Batista pushes him away and hits a swinging sidewalk slam.

Batista slams Punk into the corner and shoulders him. Batista sends him to the opposite corner and clotheslines him. Batista sends Punk into the ropes but Punk avoids the clothesline. Batista catches his cross-body attempt and powerslams him for a near fall. Batista gets a drop-toe-hold into the corner. Punk hits a high knee but can’t connect with a bulldog. Punk kicks Batista in the face when he goes for a Spear. Punk goes for another high knee but Batista counters into a Spinebuster. Batista signals it’s time for the Batista Bomb so Punk gets out of the ring. Batista goes for a Batista Bomb on the outside of the ring but Punk grabs the ropes and gets in the ring at the last second. Batista gets counted out. The crowd never even popped for one thing in the match.

Winner by Count-Out: CM PunkMatch Rating: * ¼

CM Punk smiles in the ring as Batista looks on shocked. Batista gets in the ring and lays him out with the Batista Bomb.*/ ?>

Bump of the Night: Morrison and Ziggler going over the top rope with a cross-body!

Match of the Night: Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho ***

Mike’s Thoughts

This was an alright Smackdown. The first hour was pretty good by the second hour was pretty darn brutal. It’s a shame that this happened one week removed from the big Smackdown Tenth Anniversary.

I’ll start off with the good parts before moving to the not so good. I liked the fact that we had another chance to watch Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio go head to head. I thought it was really interesting that before the match even started they made sure you saw Vince McMahon shake Rey Mysterio’s hand. I think that was an apology for the way the suspension was handled. A lot of people are crapping on the fact that Mysterio came back and is already in a title match but I’m happy it’s happening. Mysterio is a great competitor and a great ambassador of the company. They messed up with that suspension but Mysterio served his time and should just come back. Seriously, why should he be punished more by losing on TV? No one wins there.

John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler had another entertaining, technical match. It wasn’t as good as the Hell in a Cell match but it was still enjoyable nonetheless. The future of WWE looks bright with these two guys around.

Undertaker cut a typical Deadman promo tonight. I did like that they incorporated a tribute to the American Badass persona by mentioning that the ring is his “yard.” Other than that it’s the same promo we’ve been hearing for years. I still like it, though.

Now, onto the bad…

Batista versus CM Punk was brutally bad. It was poorly booked and Punk looked extremely weak during and after it. No one wins there. It makes Batista look like a buffoon for even getting counted out and it makes Punk look weak by being dominated the whole time. It was almost like some bookers from Raw came over and did this one. It just never clicked and I wish I could have the minutes of my life spent recapping that back. Even the crowd crapped on it.

The opening segment was just there. Nothing big but the announcement of the Smackdown Main Event of Bragging Rights, which is only three weeks away. I hate that Pay Per Views are so close like that but that’s not new news.

I feel bad for Matt Hardy. Now he’s reduced to doing jobs to Drew McIntyre. I love Jeff Hardy but he really screwed Matt. If I were Matt I’d wish I’d taken more time to heal from my abdominal tear. What a shame.

The Divas… well you know my thoughts. That division is on life support. How many different combinations of the same match do we have to see?

Final Rating: ** ¼

My friend Lisa, who as I previously mentioned was shown prominently on camera, has a blog where she gives her thoughts and opinions on the shows. Click this link if you’d care to check it out.